SECOND BLOOM: CATHY GRAHAM’S ART OF THE TABLE

I was lost in an Instagram K-hole a while back and stumbled upon a post by my exquisite friend Howard Slatkin. He was sharing his excitement for his friend Cathy Graham’s upcoming book, Second Bloom: Cathy Graham’s Art of the Table. Being intrigued myself, I clicked over to her page and was of course immediately smitten by her work, and became an an instant fan! It wasn’t long before Graham and I struck up a friendship online, and when her delicious book was released, she sent me a brilliant boxed edition. I was simply enthralled by the beauty and whimsy of it all.

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to be treated to a lovely luncheon and studio visit with Graham. She was brimming with a wild charm and incredible warmth. We discussed her RISD days, her move to New York City, and the evolution of her career as artist/illustrator as well as the journey of life with all of its joys, sorrows, twists, and turns.

Cathy Graham and James Andrew

Second Bloom: Cathy Graham’s Art of the Table is thoroughly imbued with Graham’s unique charm, and reveals her elegant and eclectic approach to entertaining. Her perfectly decorated homes (by former Parish Hadley designer William Hodges) in New York City and Nantucket provide a perfect backdrop for Graham’s creations – a blending of super a chic style with retro and vintage elements giving all a deeply nostalgic feel while still maintaining lightness and freshness. Her vision transports one to a gentler time – something I think we all could use more of these days!

From Cathy Graham’s book, Second Bloom

From Cathy Graham’s book, Second Bloom

From Cathy Graham’s book, Second Bloom

From Cathy Graham’s book, Second Bloom

I think Constance Spry (one of Graham’s favorites) captures Graham’s mandate quite well: “Do what you please….Just be natural and lighthearted and pretty and simple and overflowing and general and baroque and bare and austere and stylized and wild and daring and conservative….Open your mind to every form of beauty.”

Certainly words to live by!

Second Bloom: Cathy Graham’s Art of the Table, is an inspiration on so many levels – not only offering endless ideas on entertaining and creating uplifting external surrounds, but on an inner level, it’s a call to personal healing through creative effort. Graham herself conveys that her work provided her great solace following a divorce – and she invites all of us to look for new and wonderful beginnings – a second bloom – even in the midst of the end of things!

Among the many items, you’ll find beautiful ceramics, sumptuous limited edition Cathy Graham prints by Dean Rhys Morgan, and a candle that she had originally created with her late friend Robert Isabell called White Flowers – now with a few revisions and updated ingredients. (Graham has had the candle produced by fragrance guru extraordinaire Laura Slatkin of Nest). Stay tuned – there will be so much more from her we are assured!

“…ALWAYS ONE STEP AHEAD OF THE CURVE…JAMES ANDREW: INTERIOR DESIGNER, STYLE ICON AND BLOGGER EXTRAORDINAIRE IS THE LATEST ARBITER OF STYLE.”

“THE LATEST … ARBITER OF GOOD TASTE ….”

“JAMES ANDREW IS THE ULTIMATE DANDY”… “GATSBY-MEETS-GUCCI STYLE…”

WIJW IS WILD ABOUT

PRESS FROM ELLE DECOR UK

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